A home teeth whitening kit company has come under fire for breaching a number of advertising codes on social media.
Hismile was found to have exaggerated and misled in its advertising, according to the rules of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
The regulator received a complaint over its Snapchat story advert, which was seen on 26 March 2020, where it claimed the product provided ‘whiter teeth in 10 minutes’.
But the complainant challenged the product, suggesting it ‘misleadingly exaggerated’ the capability or performance of the product.
Instantaneous teeth whitening?
The social media advert showed a video of a woman placing a teeth whitening device on her mouth. With the device still in, she began to apply makeup to her face. She then smiled, with the device removed, revealing whiter teeth.
But in response, Hismile believes there was no basis for finding the ad suggested that the product provided instantaneous whitening.
In evidence, it provided an independent safety report, an independent clinical test and an in vitro study.
For example, the clinical test report, it stated, relates directly to the performance of its product. Hismile pointed towards the conclusion, which it said showed it produced ‘a visible and noticeable whitening effect…after one treatment’. This was 10 minutes in length.
Considering the case, the ASA found that consumers would understand the claim, ‘whiter teeth in 1o minutes’ – alongside the accompanying visuals – would mean they have visibly whiter teeth after 10 minutes of use.
Inadequate
They reported ‘concern’ over the evidence provided by Hismile, stating that none of it analysed the effects of the product on human participants, through trials which were blinded and used a control group.
Therefore, the evidence was deemed ‘not adequate’ to show the product could whiten teeth within the timeframe suggested in its advert.
In conclusion, the ASA said the advert ‘misleadingly exaggerated the capability and performance of the product’.
You can read the full report here.
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